Foldable table



N. N. BROWN FOLDABLE TABLE Y Filed Aug. e. 1928 2 sheets-sheet 1 ATTORNEU.

June 30,1931..r Y QN.. N. BRowN 15812396 l FOLDABLE TABLE` Filed Aug. e, 192s 2 sheets-sheet 2v fag l f ATTORNEU;

Patented dune 30, 1931'l TES-- imw'ron n. nnow'm'or 'nacnm, wisconsin, estanca 'roconn emr-- :Ummm: me. co or nennt, wxsconsnmya concurren or wisconsin p normanna manna appunti ma new e, reas'. semi no. A y

I of such length as to support the tableat -the v "rliisfinvelaion relaas we folding oreollapsible table especiall desi ed for use by campers or tourists, thong also adapted for use as a card table as well as for other 't diverse-uses and applications. Certain novel 1 featuresof the present invention are ually advantageous in' diierent'typesof fo din (Stables, as for instance in tables having rigi to s and legs foldable thereagainst, and in 'lo ta les having foldable tops as well as foldablele. f "i Varisus types of folding tables have been proposed heretofore, but a'diiiiculty common tc these tables is that they are more or less '15 unsteady when set up. Further, in the type of table having a fol top, in order to permit of the folding o the top, the size and shape ofthe top and the length of the legs are usually so limited as to preclude the.

2U provision of a top of proper shapeand size mconjunction with l ofsuchlength as -to make the table stan the proper and de,-` sirable distance above the floor, und, or

other support.- Another serious dilliculty in I 25 all prior folding tables residesin the fact that they are rather expensive and dicult to manufacture.

Y One of the principal objects 'of the present invention is to provide a folding table which, when set up, is rigid and steady, irrespec- .tive of whether the top is of thel rigid, non-y foldin type' or of kt e, type made u of hinge ly connected sections. But while ving this advantage, a ta'ble embodying the '35 present invention may be! readily knocked down and compactly folded. The type of table with the top made-up ofhingedly con nected sections, when folded up resents a case-like structure which is latche in'v folded position and provides a compartment or receptacle for storin and carrying various kinds of articles suc las table cloths, knives, spoons and the like. Another im ortant object of the present "55 invention resi es in the revision of a novel mounting for the legs, w ich provides a very firm an steady support for the table top, simplifies the problem of manufacture and permits of use of a top of proper and desirim able shape and sizein conjunction with legs' cepta'cle provided the tableis folded. .f v

desirable and Vappropriate height aboveV the ound or door.

PATENT opl-"r-'nzav 'l Another vsubstantial advantage .resides the novel locking means. em loyed which eoacts with the mounting of t e legs and with the sections ofthe tabletop of the folding top type of table, to maintain the top sections ri idly in` their extended positions. The loc ingmeansv is foldable into there- Other objects andadvantages reside in oer- 'tain novel features of the construction, ar-

: rangement and combination of parts which will be hereinafter more fully described and..

particularlfy pointed out in the appended claims, re erence' .being had to the apcomo this panying dra forming -agpart specification, in which:

side `down in vorder to illustratethe 'construc- `J ottom planviewI of the table shown in Fi re 1 with the legs infolded the locking means partly tion to advanta Figure 2 is. a

}I ositionl an folded; -1

Figure 3 is a perspective view illustrating how the to sections of this t.' of table 0r receptacle; i f Figure l is a fragmentary view in-"section taken on line 4-4-4 of Figure 2; l Figure 5 isa bottom plan view showing a rigld top tvpe loffolding table embodying certain novel features of the present inventiong'and a Figures 6 'and-7` are fragmentary detail views in front and side elevation, res ctive ly, and illustrate the novel means emp eyed to by the top sections when Figure 1 1s a perspective-view showing one connect each leg to the table top in both forms of the invention, the table top and parts connected thereto being shown in section for the purpose of clearness in illustration.

Referring to the drawings, 'andfmore particularly to Fi resvl to 4,inc1u'sive, wherein for the sake o .illustration is shown one em-4 bodiment of the invention, it will be seen that itY fold up to orm a compact,A case'- ikebundle the table comprises a pair of similar top sections designated at 10 and 11. These top sections 10 and 11 are of identical construction and each has a frame made up of side bars 12 and 13 and end bars 14 and 15. To the frame of each top section, a top plate 16, which may be constituted of hard liber or other suitable material or composition, is applied and secured by any suitable fastening means. The top sections 10 and 11 are hingedly connected by means of a pair of similar hinges 17 having their hinge leaves secured to the end bars 14C of the frames of the top sections and pivoted together. In addition to the hinges 17, a hinge 18 is also provided and has its piv otally connected leaves fastened to the central portions of the adjacent or contiguous side bars 13 of the frames.

Each section oi the top is further braced and strengthened by means of a transverse bar 19 which is disposed adjacent but in spaced relation to tlre side bar 12- of each frame. The transverse bars 19 extend parallel to their respective bars 12 and have their ends fastened to the end bars 14. They may also be fastened to the top plates if desired. The transverse bars 19 serve not only to brace the top, but also co-act with the side bars 12 to provide a mounting for the supporting legs of the table and to define a space for receiving such legs when the latter are folded. The supporting legs of the table are designated at 20, 21, 22 and 23, the legs 20 .and 23 being hingedly connected in a novel manner with one section of the top and the legs 21 and 22 being similarly connected with the other top section. The legs at one side of the table, as for instance, the legs 20 and 23 are offset slightly from each other, the leg 20 being disposed close to the adjacent side bar 12 and the leg 23 being disposed close to the adjacent transverse bar 19. The legs 22 and 21 are similarly arranged. The legs are rigidly held in extended position by means of a jointed brace 26 made up of links 27 and 28 (see Figures 6 and 7). The links 27 are pivotally connected' as at 29 to the legs and the links 28 of the braces associated with the legs 20 and 22 are pivotally connected to the side bars 12 whereas the links 28 of the braces associated with the legs 21 and 23 are pivotally connected to the transverse bars 19'. The links 27 and 28 of each brace are pivotally connected as indicated at 30 and each brace 28 has an extension 31 terminating in an offset lug 32 received, when the brace is extended, in a notch 33 provided in the associated link 27 (see Figure 5). The links of each brace swing slightly past dead center when the leg is set up and thus permits the lugs 32 `,and the notches 33 to interlock and prevents accidental folding of the legs when the table is set up. When the legs are in folded position, they are disposed flat up against` the underside of the table in the spaces defined by the side bars 12 and transverse bars 19 and the legs. This compact folding is made possible by the offsetting of each pair of legs in the manner described. There is suicient space between the legs and the bars 12 and 19 to receive the folded braces 26.

For releasably locking and holding the table set up, a locking bar 35 is provided and is pivotally connected by a pivot pin 36 to a leaf 37 of a hinge designated generally at 38 and having its other leaf 39 fastened to one of the side bars 13. The pivotal connection between the leaves 37 and 39 is at right angles to the pivot pin 36. rhis permits the locle ing bar to be swung around into parallelism and also down into the same plane with the side bar 13 to which it is connected, whereby the locking bar may be located entirely within the contines of the space defined. by the frame of the section 10 of the table. Tc move the locking bar to the position wherein it secures the table set up, itis grasped and rocked about its hinge 38 until it lies in the full line position shown in Figure 4, following which it is rotated about the pivot pin 36 until it occupies the position shown in full lines in Figure 1 and in dot and dash lines in Figure 4. ln the locking position shown in Figure 1, the locking bar 35 ii'rrnly andsnugly engages both side bars 13 and both trans verse bars 19, the hinge 33 being located and proportioned to ensure this engagement.

To :told up the table, the legs are collapsed into the spaces provided therefor in the section oi the table top and the locking bar is rocked to its double hinge and folded into the position shown in full lines in Figure 2 and in dotted lines in Figure 4. Sections 10 and 11 of the table top may then be folded up as illustrated in Figure 3 and until the 'frame members abut in face to face relation. rThis disposes of the two sections of the top parallel to each other and liatly against each other andi-the table top sections are secured in this position by suitable releasable fastening devices designated at 40. ln the spaces 42 and 43, various artic-les may be stored and carried and campers and tourists usually find it convenient to place the silverware and table linen in these spaces.

An important feature oi this form of the present invention resides in the novel lock* ing means, which while being foldable, coacts in its locking position with the frame of the table top sections and with the transverse bracing bars to maintain a steady and rigid top structure.

The form oi' the invention as shown in Figure 5 is identical. in many respects to that shown in Figures 1 to 4, inclusive and hereinabove described and in 'fact the only difference resides in the provision of a rigid nonfolding top and the omission of the locking means utilized to maintain the sections of the yvention, transverse bars 19 are arranged ALautrec folding to in rigid extension. i Thus, as

shown in igure 5, the top of the table in- 'cludes a suitable frame made up of side bars 12 as bef'ore and nd bars 14 and 15', there being two such end bars in this form ofthe invention. In lieu of-side bars 13, a single transverse bar 13' is providedat the center of the end bars and Iis suitably connected thereto. As in the other embodiment of the iga jacent and parallel to each side bar 12. The table top is designated at.16 and ris in one piece. Legs 20, 21, 22 and 23 are provided exactly as in the other embodiment of the invention and are pivotally connected to the bars 12 and 19 and equipped with jointed braces as in the other form..

Identical means is provided in both forms of the invention for plvotally connecting each leg to its associated bars 12 and 19. As

-shown in Figures 6 and 7, this means comprises a hinge bracket 50 having an attaching late 51 riveted as at 52 with the associated eg. Resilient gripping lugs 53 are formed integrally with the attaching plate 51 and are pressed into gripping engagement with the leg. At one end, the attaching plate 51 is provided with a laterally enlarged section or extension 55 having its ends formed with offset pivot ears 56. As shown, the lateral enlargement extends more to one side of the attaching plate than to the other so as to space the ears 56 different distances from the center line to the leg with which they are associated. With this hinge bracket .construction, the legs of each pair are properly staggered or offset due to the reverse arrangement of the hinge brackets of the members of each pair of legs. The apertured hinge ears 56 of each bracket are transversely aligned and receive a hinge pin or pivot 57 having one end received in 'a socket 58 providedin the associated side bar 12 havi its other end received in an opening`59 provided `in the adjacent transverse bar 19. A locking pin 6() is 'driven through each bar 19 and through a transverse opening in the pivot pins 57 to frame of each section, legs pivotally supported on the frame and on the transver bars and a locking bar pivotally mounted on the frame of one of the sections and engageable with the frames of both sections and with the transverse bars when the table is set up.

2. A table including a top having a pair of foldable sections, each section including a frame and a top plate, a transverse bracing bar associated with each frame and a locking member connected with one frame and engaging both frames and both transverse bars to maintain the sections of the top extended when the table is set up and legs for supporting the table top.

3. A foldable table comprising a top made up of a pair of hin edly connected sections, each section inclu 1n a frame and a top plate, a locking bar, a inge connected to the frame of one section, a pivotal connection between the locking bar and the hinge, the axis angles te the axis of the hinge to permit the bar to swing in two planes for compact folding, the bar when in operative position coacting with the sections of the table top to maintain them in rigid extension.

ture.

NEWTON N. BROWN.

hold the pivot pins against axial displaceand very effectively pivoted to the frame of i the table top.

I claim:

1. A foldable table comprising a top including a pair of hingedly connected sections, each section including a frame and a top plate, a transverse bar associated with the .of the pivotal connection being at right y In witness Whereof,-I hereto aix my signalos.4 

